* An alternative approach is to use current battery technology, just more of it. Tesla’s Roadster made headlines in 2009 when it became the first commercially available EV with a range of almost 250 miles—competitive with gasoline cars. Tesla doubled the driving range by doubling the number of battery cells. However, this also doubled the price: the Roadster battery alone costs an estimated $36,000 (the base MSRP for the 2011 Roadster is $109,000), undermining its economic attractiveness to the mainstream.